Heater control



June 1950 E. H. PATRICK ET AL 2,513,045

HEATER CONTROL Filed June 14, 1946 INVENTORJ TvoMAa L-PE/YFY' and EAFNIJJ'H B4 TRICK,

ATTORNEY:

Patented June 27, 1950 HEATER CONTROL Earnest H. Patrick and Thomasl i. Perry,'Indianapolis, ind; said Patrick assignor to said Perry Application June 14, 1946, Serial No. 676,762

The present invention relates to control mech' anismfor afluid fuel burner,- and is particularly concerned with the provision of means, to, be associated with the gas burner of the so-called side arm type of water heater assembly, for auto maticallyextinguishing the burner when a suitable amount of water in the storage tank has been raised to a predetermined temperature. While others have heretofore provided means intended to accomplish that broad'function -inone fashion or another, we know of no instance in-whichi any one has designed means-capableof ready installation in connection with the standard contr'ols of a sidearm heater assembly, to accomplish that function withoutith necessityi'for substituting,

new-and morecomplicated parts for ahytp'aits ofthe standard assembly; and'it is' a primary object of our invention to providea householderskit, including parts which may beassembled, with the standard heater organizatiomusing only the simple household vtools, .suchas. screw. driver, pliers, and the like.

A further object of the inventiontis to p'rovi de,

forgassociationflwith a valve,.a detent. adapted to holdthe valve in open position, electrical means for retracting the detent, upon'energization, 'and means actuated by the valve, uponvthe movement thereof to closedposition, for deenergizing ,said

electrical means. A further object of thelinvenr tion. is to provide spring means, adapted to loe'. associated with a rotary. valve, for urging that valve. to. closed position; .and toprovide means for readily loading .and imloadingksaid spring means, so thatthe valve may be optionally moved to open eposition substantially, without lfsisi stange ironnsaid spring,means,

W objects of; theinventieil wmaripr fast the descriptionjproceeds.,-

., ilo the accomplishment of the abov e a nd.

objects, our invention may be embodied ,i n the foxn .illustrated in the accompanying j.draw ii gs, attention being called to theflfact, however that the drawings' are -illus trative only, and; that change-niay bey illustrated and described; so long. as the stqpe; ogthe appended elaims-isgnot violated} li'ig 1 is; an ,elevation Tara standardisid' arni heat r assembly, -with our control: mea s ssbiates t ere ith}, .1 4, Fig. 2 is anenlarge'd side elevation order con trol -means associated with a bur ner; W l Fig: 3 -is afront elevation thereof; Fig: 4131s a transverse section, taken substan tially on the=-lineg4 =fi oiFig; *2; and

'F'Figz'5 isa wiring-dlagramwwdeinQthe ,speci-fieconstructipn TReferri'ngmo're particularly 'to' the'drawings,

it will be seen that we have illustrated a liquid storage tank H] with a coil type heater II and associated gasburner, assembled therewith. A

: rotary valve l3,'havin'gf'a wing type manipulating handle I4, is connected in a gas supply line l5:

' II. All or this construction isentirely standard,

For controlling the valve 13, we provide asole noidcomprising a case lfiincludi'ng'a 'coil (indicated by therefe'rence numeral 49' in Fig. 5) and a core "l1 resiliently held in projected positionby anysuitable means. Such a solenoid assembly is well known and is procurable upon the open market. v i

The upper 'end of thecorefl'l isformed to provide a cam surface [8 flanking a notch [9. The

solenoid assemblyis suitably mounted (in'a fash' ion later to be described) upon the gas supply conduit' l5 in such'relation to the, valve l3 that,

as the handlel lis turned from the valve-closed positionillustrated to the valve-opened position (indicated in the dotted lines in Fig.2) one wing; of the handle l4 will engage the cam surface ['8 to, depress. the core I I against its resilient bias;

to permit said handle wing to pass into registry: with the notch l9, whereupon the corel1 will spring back into its illustrated position to retain the handle l4 against return toward valve-closed position;

,A. spring 20 has one'end 2i, anchored, through thei'iiediumfof a yoke'zz-jltothe opposite wing of the valve handle I4, said yoke'being secured to'the valve handle'with any suitable means, such-f asscrews or boltsj23passing into or through suitable openings inthe' valve handle l4. bracket 24,"suitably secured to" the case 6 oi' 'the solenoid," provides a'support fora pivot pin 25 upon which; ispivotally mounted a belleranklever, one arm the valve handle'll. The other. arm 21 of the Said bell crank lever is adaptedto' lie-manipulated to:

control'theaction' of the'lever arm 26.

gagedthe otherhend 29 of the spring 20.

l= 'ivotally mounted u'poinarm 210i thebe'll crank levr, as at 30, is'a; latch having a dog3l"engage1-; able, at times, with afllsuitabl'e i'eoess' i'n'the'i lower 1 the bias of the spring 33, to disengage the dog 3I from the case I6; whereafter, the bell crank lever may be moved in a clockwise direction to unload the spring 2'] completely. With the lever in the latter position, the valve handle I4 ma be manipulated to open the valve I3, without resistance from the spring 20.

Suitably secured to the case I6 is a block 34, proportioned to fit about substantially one-half the periphery of the gas pipe I5; and a clamping block 35, proportioned to fit substantially about 4 whenever the plunger 41 is free. A wire 55 connects said terminal of the switch 46 with one terminal 56 of the thermo-responsive unit 42 through a terminal 6! in the fixture 44, one blade 62 of the plug 63, and a wire 64. A bimetallic bar 51 is electrically connected with said terminal 56 and carries a contactor 58 which, upon heating of said bar to a predetermined temperature, will be moved into'contact with a terminal 53 connected, by a wire 60, with the other blade 65 of the plug 63 and so, through terminal 66, to the other side of plug 48.

Thus, it will be clear that the energizing circuit for the solenoid coil 49 includes the switches 42 and 46, in series.

The householders kit of our invention includes the case 16 and all the parts carried thereby, the

the opposite half of said pipe, may be secured to said block 34 by means of screws 36, said screws acting to engage the elements 34 and 35 in clamp-- ing relation upon said pipe, whereby the above described assembly will be supported from said pipe. A set screw 31 may be provided to improve the solidity of the engagement of parts. Suitable wiring for controlling the energization of the solenoid coil is indicated generally by the reference numeral 38.

A wire 39 is provided at its opposite ends with clamping devices 40 and 4| of any suitable construction for cooperative association with the upperand lower ends of the tank I0,whereby, when said elements 40 and 4 I are suitably engaged with the tank parts, the wire 39 willextend tautly substantially from the top substantially to the bottom of said tank in close juxtaposition to its vertical wall. Slidably moveable upon said wire 39, and frictionally retained in any selected position upon said wire is a thermo-responsive unit 42. The unit 42 is so constructed as to be responsive to the temperature of the tank wall at the point at which said unitengages the tankwall; and such unit includes an electrical switch, normally open, but closed when subjected. to a predetermined, elevated temperature. The push but ton 43 is incorporated in the unit 42 for closing said switch manually, regardless of the temperature to which the unit 42 is subjected. Wiring 38 connects the unit 42 in the circuit with the solenoid coil, preferably through a plug-in fixture I 44 attached to the wall of the heating unit I I.

A bracket 45, suitably secured to the case I6,

supports a switch 46, normally closed,. but 'ineluding a plunger 41 operable, upon depression,

to open such switch. The plunger 41 is so mount ed in the path oflthe yoke 22 that, whenever the valve handle I4; is in valve-closed position, the plunger 41 will be depressed to hold the switch 46 open; and whenever the valve handle is out. of valve-closed position, the switch 46 will be closed.

Referring, now, to Fig 5 it will be seen that we a terminal 50' inthe fixture 44, directly to one,

side of said plug 48. The other end of said coil is connected, by wire 5 I, to one'terminal 5210fthe' switch ,46. A bridge 54, carried by the plunger 41, will establish connection between saidterminal 52 and the other terminal 53 of said switch .yoke 22, the thermo-responsive unit 42, and the wiring 38, 38. If the connection box 44 is to be used, it will be included in the kit; but it will be clear that such a box is unnecessary, and that the cord 38 may be directly connected with the remaining portions of the circuit; The kit will likewise include the clamping elements 49 and 4| and the stretcher 39. v

To install the equipmentit is only necessary for the householder to clamp the units 46 and 4I to theu'pper and lower ends of the tank I0, attach the yoke 22 to the valve handle I4, and clamp the blocks 34 and 35 to the standard pipe l5 in the proper relation to said valve handle. No further adjustments or structural changes are required.

Now, it the plug 48 is inserted in any suitable standard electric outlet, the equipment will be ready for operation. The householder will set the unit 42 at a level dependent upon the amount of hotwater required. If he desires only enough for shaving, he will set the unit 42 near the top of the tank; for av bath, the unit 42 will be set somewhat lower on the tank, and for doing launthe casing I6, the bell crank lever is moved in] clockwise direction to a position in which the spring 26 is unloaded, and the handle I4 is turned in a clockwise direction to open the valve H3. As said handle is so turned, the core I1 is momentarily depressed and then springs back to engage the handle I4 in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. As said valve handle is thus moved to open position, theswitch plunger 41 is released, and is moved upwardly by a suitable spring (not shown) to bridge the terminals 52 and 53.

Now,, ,the bell crank lever is moved in "acou'nter-clockwise direction until the latch. nose 3I "engagesthe case I6 thus loading'the spring 20. Of

course, theburner 'I2 will be lighted as soon as the valve is opened.

7 The thermosiphon 42 has been set reaches a predetermined value,"

the arm 51 will move the contactor 58 into engagement withthe contactor 59; and, since the' switch 46 is closed, the coil 49 will thus be energized. Immediately, the core I1-wil1 be retracted;

I the spring 20 will snap the valve handle I4 into:

valve-closing position to extinguish the burner I effect of the water heating assembly, well understoodin the art, will promptl ly begin to circulate water from the bottom of the tank through the heater coil and to the top.

l2; ,and; the yoke 22 will strike the plunger 41 to break the energizing circuit for the coil [9 by moving the bridge piece 54 out of contact with the terminals .52 and 53.

'..If, forany reason, the householder should desire toextinguish the burner, once the mechanism has been set, ibeforethe tank wall at the selected level .of the. unit 42 has reachedthe predetermined temperature, he may pressthe' button 43 which will mechanically shift the arm 5'! to bring the contacts .58 and 5 9 into engagement, thus closing the energizing circuit for the coil.

We claim as our invention:

1. The combination with a valve having an actuati g handle, of means for controlling said valve comprising a spring biasing said valve toward closed position, means providing a movable anchor for said spring and operable to varythe loading thereof, a detent cooperative with said handle when said valve is in openposition, ,to hold saidvalve against closure, electric means for withdrawing said detent from cooperative relation with said handle, an energizing circuit for said electric means including a normally-open switch responsive toanexternal condition to shift to circuit-closing condition, and a second switch in said circuit, said second switch being always closed when said valve is open and always open when said valve is closed.

.2. A control kit for use with the fuel supply valve of a fluid-fuel'burner, comprising a solenoid including a coil, a core biased to projected position, and a case, means for mounting said case on a fluid fuel supp y line adjacent the standard control valve therefor, with said core located, when in projected position, to engage said valve, in its open position, to hold said valve against closure, a spring, means for anchoring one end of said spring on said valve to urge said valve toward closed position, means for anchoring the other end of said spring on said case, and means providing an energizing circuit for said solenoid comprising electrical leads connected to opposite ends of said coil and adapted to be connected to a current source, and two switches series connected in said leads, one of said switches being normally open and being responsive to a change in an external condition to close, and the other of said switches being normally closed and includin a housing carried by said case, and a plunger positioned, when said case is so mounted on said line, in the path of valve-closing movement of an element of said valve and shiftable by said element, upon valve closure, to open said other switch.

3. A control kit for use with the fuel supply valve of a fluid-fuel burner, comprising a solenoid including a coil, a core biased to projected position, and a case, means for mounting said case on a fluid fuel supply line adjacent the standard control valve therefor, with said core located, when in projected position, to engage said valve, in its open position, to hold said valve against closure, a spring, means for anchoring one end of said spring on said valve to urge said valve toward closed position, means for connecting the other end of said spring with said case for movement toward and away from said valve, and means providing an energizing circuit for said solenoid comprising electrical leads connected to opposite ends of said coil and adapted to be connected to a current source, and two switches series connected in said leads, one of said switches being normally open and being responsive to a change in an external condition to close, and the other of said switches being normally closed and including a housing carried by said case, and a plunger positioned, when said case is so mounted on said line, in the path of valve-closing movement of an element of said valve and shiftable by said element, upon valve closure, to open said other switch.

4. A control kit for use with the fuel supply valve of a fluid-fuel burner, comprising a solenoid including a coil, a core biased to projected position, and a case, means for mounting said case on a fluid fuel supply line adjacent the standard control valve therefor, with said core located, when in projected position, to engage said valve, in its open position, to hold said valve against closure, a spring, means for anchoring one end of said spring on said valve to urge said valve toward closed position, a lever pivotally mounted on said case, one end of said lever being movable toward and away from said valve, the other end of said spring being anchorable on said lever end, and meansproviding an energizing circuit for said solenoid comprising electrical leads connected to opposite ends of said coil and adapted to be connected to a current source, and two switches series connected in said leads, one of said switches being normally open and being responsive to a change in an external condition to close, and'the other of said switches bein normally closed and including a housing carried by said case, and a plunger positioned, when said case is so mounted on said line, in the path of valve-closing movement of an element of said valve and shiftable by said element, upon valve closure, to open said other switch.

5. A control kit for use with the fuel supply valve of a fluid-fuel burner, comprising a solenoid including a coil, a core biased to projected position, and a case, means for mounting said caseonva fluid fuel supply line adjacent the standard control .valve therefor, with said core located, when in projected position, to engage said valve, in its open position, to hold said valve against closure, a spring, means for anchoring one end of said spring on said valve to urge said valve toward closed position, a bell crank lever, means pivotally mounting the elbow of said lever on said case for movement of one arm of said lever toward and away from said valve, means for anchoring the other end of said spring on said lever arm, and means providing an energizing circuit for said solenoid comprising electrical leads connected to opposite ends of said coil and adapted to be connected to a current source, and two switches series connected in said leads, one of said switches being normally open and being responsive to a change in an external condition to close, and the other of said switches being normally closed and including a housing carried by said case, and a plunger positioned, when said case is so mounted on said line, in the path of valveclosing movement ,of an element of said valve and shiftable by said element, upon valve closure, to open said other switch.

6. A control kit for use with the fuel supply valve of a fluid-fuel burner, comprising a solenoid including a coil, a core biased to projected position, and a case, means for mounting said case on a fluid fuel supply line adjacent the standard control valve therefor, with said core located,

when in projected position, to engage said valve,

in its open position, to hold said valve against closure, a spring, means for anchoring one end of said sprin on said valve to urge said valve toward closed position, a bell crank lever, means s s-isms rent source, and two switches series connected in said leads, one of said switches :being normally open and being responsive to a change an' 'eX- ternal condition 'to close, and the other of said switches being normally closed and "including I a housing carried by said case, anda plunger positioned, when said case is so mounted on sa'idlir'ie,

irithepath of valve-closing'movement of an element of said valve and shiftable by said element, upon valve closure, to open said otherswitch. "'71 A control kit for use withthe fuel'supply valveof a fluid-fuel burner, comprising a solenoid'iiicluding a coil, a core bia'sedto p ojected position, and a' case, means for mounting said case on a fluid fuel supply line adjacent the ;standard control valve therefor, with said; core located, when in projected"position, to engage 1 said"valve,in its"open position, to hold saidvalve against closure, a spring, means for-anchoring 1 one end" of said spring on said valve to urge said valve toward closedposition, a lever pivotally mounted on said'case, one end of said lever being movable toward and away from said valve, the other end of said'spring being anchorable on said lever end, latch means carried by the other end of saidlever and engageable with said case when said first-named lever end is remote" from said valve, and means providing 1 an energizing circuit for said solenoid compris ing" electrical leads connected to opposite ends of saidcoil and adapted to be connected to a cur rent source; and two switches series connected in'said leads,"one of said switches being noran external condition to close, and the other of said switches being normally closed and including a housing carried by'said case, and a plunger positioned, when said case is so mounted on said line, in the path of valve-closing movement of an element of said valve and shiftable by said element, upon valve closure, to open said other switch.

, mally open and being responsive to'a change in i Q8. A control kithfor use with the fuelfsupply valve of afluid-fuelburner, comprising a solenoid including a coil, a core biased toprojected posi tion, and a case, rneans' for' mounting said case on a fluid fuel supply line adjacent the standard control valve therefor, with said core 'lo-' cated, when in projected position, 'to. engage. said valve, in'its openposition, to holdsa'id valve against closure, a spring, means for anchoring one end of said spring on said valve'to urge said valve toward closed position, means for anchoring the other e'n'd of said spring on said case, a guide element, means for connecting the ends of said guide; element respectively to a liquid storage tank near the top and the bottomof said tank, thermo responsive means slidably supported on said guide element and adapted to contact 'a"wa1l of such tank, a normally open electric switch associated with said the -mo responsive means and connected to be'closedby a risein temperature impressed on said thermoresponsive means, a second switch, and means providing an energizing circuit for said sole noid comprising electrical leads connected to opposite ends of said coil and adapted to be connectedfthlroug'h both of said switches serially to a current source, said second switch being norrrially cl'osed and including 'a' housing carried by said case, and a plunger'po sitioned, when s aid case is so mounted on 'sam-ime; in the 'pathof valve-closing movement-6r an element of said valve and "'shi'ftable" by'fsaid element, upon valve clo'sure',to open said'second switch, v Q

a The device I or claim 8 including :manualIymanipulable means for closing" saidnormally open switc 1;

I EARNEST I-I. PATRICK. r w oMAs LL'PERRY.

' REFnRENQESlCITED The followingreferencesare of record in, the fileof this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number" Name Date" 381,866 Weil 'Apr. 24,1888 "944,686 'Murray Dec. '28, 1909' 1,055,803 'Runnion Mar. 11, 1913 1,517,389 Ball'antine -Dec; 2, 1924 1,530,049 r Hunt "Mar; 17, 1925 

